50the Anniversary of The Wild and the Dirty

Today marks the 50^th anniversary of the release of “Quella sporca storia nel West” in Rome.

Johnny Hamilton, comes home from the Civil war, where he learns that his father was killed by the bandit Santana and his mother has married the ambiguous father's brother, Uncle Claude, who would in turn kill the bandit in a duel. But the continued presence of gunmen and impediments that lies in trying to find explanations puts him in a suspicious mood. Aided by his friend Horace, he manages to avoid ambushes by those who have an interest in not letting him find out the truth. In the tomb of Santana he finds clues evident that the bandit is still alive. He discovers also the refuge of Santana and there finds his uncle which in effect is the instigator of the murder of his brother. Johnny manages to put in conflict the uncle and the bandit telling Santana the existence of $300,000 which has disappeared. However Johnny is held captive, tied to a cross, while Santana storms the home of Claude. Johnny's mother, who now understands and asks Claude for an explanation but is mortally wounded; However, she finds the strength to drag herself to the place where Johnny is held and with the help of Horace, frees him, and then dies. The two friends roam the country and kill his uncle Claudius and his henchmen.

The film was directed by Enzo G. Castellari and features Andrea Giordana, Horst Frank, Gilbert Roland and Gabriella Grimaldi. Based on Shakespeare’ Hamlet it has an outstanding score by the late Francesco De Masi.

Quella sporca storia nel West – Italian title

Uccidere o non uccidere? – Italian title

Deus Criou o Homem E o Homem Criou o Colt – Brazilian title

Django porte sa croix – French title

Django - die Totengräber warten schon – German title

O stavromenos tou Rio Grande – Greek title

To moutro tou Notou – Greek title

Johnny Hamlet – Portuguese title

Johnny el vengador – Spanish title

La venganza de Johnny Hamlet – Spanish title

Det kom en farlig hämnare – Swedish title

To Kill or Not to Kill? – English title

The Dirty Story of the West – English title

The Wild and the Dirty – U.S.A. title

A 1967 Italian production [Daiano Films, Leone Films (Rome)]

Producers: Ugo Guerra, Elio Scardamaglia

Director: Enzo G. Castellari

Story: Sergio Corbucci based on “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare

Screenplay: Tito Carpi, Francesco Scardamaglia, Enzo Girolami, Bruno Corbucci

Cinematography: Angelo Filippini [Technicolor, Techniscope]

Music: Francesco De Masi

Song: “Find a Man” sung by Maurizio Graf (Maurizio Attanasio)

Running time: 92 minutes

Cast:

Johnny Hamilton – Chip Corman (Andrea Giordana)

Emily/Evelyn/Ofelia/Betty – Gabriella Grimaldi (Gabriella Boccardo)

Ross – Enio Girolami

Gil/Guild – Pedro Sanchez

Eugenia – Stefania Careddu (Stefania di Sambrese)

Polomo – Giorgio Sanmartin

Horace/Dazio – Gilbert Roland

Claude/Claudio Hamilton – Horst Frank

Gertrude ‘The Queen’ – Françoise Prévost

Santana – Manuel Serrano

Undertaker – Franco Latino

With: John Bartha, Franco Leo, Fabio Patella, Ugo Adinolfi, Claudio Trionfi